Vanderbilt University

BOSTON -- This summer, Melvin Matos did something that he never thought he would do: graduate from high school.

He'd started drinking at 14, and quickly moved on to pills and pot. By the time he turned 16, Matos could see where his life was heading some of his buddies already had died from drugs and drink.

After a stint in rehab, Matos decided to enroll at the William J. Ostiguy High School in downtown Boston, one of five public "recovery high schools" in Massachusetts. There, in addition to his academic classes, he participated in group therapy and 12-step meetings, submitted to regular drug tests and formed friendships with kids facing similar struggles.

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